Elections in Karabakh: Two generals among candidates contesting presidential post in Stepanakert

A presidential election campaign in Nagorno-Karabakh kicks off on June 19, while a month later the fifth presidential vote in the history of the [internationally] unrecognized Armenian republic will be held. Among the four candidates are incumbent president Bako Sahakyan, MP, former Deputy Defense Minister Vitaly Balasanyan, pro-rector of the Stepanakert Branch of the State Agrarian University Arkady Soghomonyan and Valery Khachatryan, presently unemployed.

Political observers expect the main competition will be between two generals – General of the National Security Sahakyan and combat general Balasanyan.

After retiring from his post of deputy defense minister, Balasanyan actively engaged in politics. He became an adviser to Sahakyan, but three years later had to resign. Officially, no reasons for his departure were reported, but in private conversations Balasanyan spoke about his advice being unwanted and much in Sahakyan's policies being unacceptable to him.  Read more... (622 words)

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